Tisane

A tisane is any infusion made from herbs, flowers, roots or bark, such as chamomile, peppermint or rooibos, rather than the Camellia sinensis plant that produces green, black, white, oolong and pu-erh tea. It is often called herbal tea in everyday conversation even though it is technically not tea at all.

Because tisanes lack the tannins found in true tea, most of them tolerate near-boiling water and a longer steep without turning bitter, which is a real practical difference from delicate green or white tea. Many are also naturally caffeine-free, though a few herbal blends do include added ingredients that are not.

When buying, look for whole flowers and leaf pieces rather than a bag full of dust, since larger pieces generally hold aroma better over time. A common mistake is applying green tea rules, short steep, cooler water, to a robust herbal blend, which leaves the cup thin when it could safely brew longer and hotter.